In an interview given to Metal Hammer Before his death in 2021, former Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison expressed his admiration for On the Mysteries of Dom Satanas by Mayhem, which he considers one of the greatest Black Metal albums ever recorded.
Limitless admiration for a black metal classic
Joey Jordison, known for his major influence on modern metal as the drummer of Slipknot, has always displayed eclectic musical tastes, mixing classic rock, 80s thrash and 90s extreme metal. Among the works that have profoundly influenced him marked, he quotes the album On the Mysteries of Dom Satanas by Mayhem, which he discovered shortly after its release in 1994.
“When I bought De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by Mayhem, it had the same impact as Reign In Blood by Slayer for me”confided Joey to Metal Hammer. “It’s an incredibly influential record, both on me and on music in general – a true model for black metal.”
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An album linked to a tragic story
Mayhem, a pioneering band of the second wave of Norwegian black metal, is recognized for its musical influence but also for its history marked by drama. Their first full album, On the Mysteries of Dom Satanaswas released in 1994, a year after the murder of guitarist Euronymous by Varg Vikernes, the band’s bassist at the time. Despite these tragedies, the album quickly became a classic of the genre, celebrated for its unique atmosphere and sonic power.
Joey described this album as much more than just a record: “With the history of Mayhem and the tragedies surrounding them, this album is more than a recording… It is [comme] a book. You not only listen to music, but also a way of life. The riffs, the drums, the vocals… All this creates a totally foreign atmosphere, absolutely captivating. When you put it on, you are instantly transported somewhere else.”
A parallel with Reign In Blood
For Joey, On the Mysteries of Dom Satanas is placed at the same level as Reign In Blood by Slayer, an essential work that redefined Thrash Metal in 1986.
“In the same way that Reign In Blood is the ultimate thrash album, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is the ultimate black metal album”he said. “People have tried to copy or plagiarize it many times, but no one has ever succeeded. No one will ever surpass him.”
